First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC) Upgraded to Hold at Zacks Investment Research

The P/E ratio is 17.52 and market cap is 1.64B. The Company's deepwater segment consists of drillship operations.

Analysts expect First Financial Bancorp (NASDAQ:FFBC) to report $0.38 EPS on October, 19.They anticipate $0.01 EPS change or 2.70% from last quarter's $0.37 EPS. FBNC's profit would be $11.85M giving it 18.40 P/E if the $0.48 EPS is correct. On average, analysts predict that First Bancorp will post $1.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. It closed at $35.5 lastly. Zoetis Inc (ZTS) has risen 29.89% since October 12, 2016 and is uptrending.

Since May 2, 2017, it had 3 insider purchases, and 0 sales for $73,194 activity. 500 shares were bought by Mayer Michael Goodwin, worth $14,495 on Tuesday, May 2. The stock presently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $35.75. CREDLE ERIC P had bought 1,000 shares worth $29,890.

Investors sentiment increased to 1.73 in Q2 2017. The 50 day moving average moved up $1.53 and the 200 day average moved up $0.19. Additionally First Financial Bancorp. recently announced a dividend for shareholders that was paid on Monday the 3rd of July 2017. 24 funds opened positions while 45 raised stakes. Ameriprise reported 383,489 shares or 0.01% of all its holdings. Finally, ValuEngine lowered shares of First Financial Bancorp. from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, September 1st. Barclays Public Limited Company reported 1,419 shares. IFP Advisors Inc increased its holdings in shares of First Financial Bancorp.by 0.6% during the 2nd quarter. Wells Fargo & Mn has invested 0% in First Bancorp (NASDAQ:FBNC). Moreover, Blackhill Capital Inc has 4.7% invested in the company for 393,420 shares. State Board Of Administration Of Florida Retirement Systems has invested 0% in First Bancorp (NASDAQ:FBNC). Pinnacle owns 0% invested in First Bancorp (NASDAQ:FBNC) for 11,430 shares. Creative Planning holds 15,756 shares. 114899 shares were traded on First Bancorp's last session. The Illinois-based Northern Trust Corp has invested 0% in First Bancorp (NASDAQ:FBNC). Gsa Capital Prns Llp invested in 0.02% or 8,451 shares. Stieven Capital Advisors Lp who had been investing in First Bancorp N C for a number of months, seems to be less bullish one the $873.12M market cap company. The company has market cap of 333.04 million GBP. The hedge fund held 504,925 shares of the major banks company at the end of 2017Q2, valued at $15.78 million, down from 525,925 at the end of the previous reported quarter. It has a 36.27 P/E ratio. The Bank engages in a range of banking activities, including the acceptance of deposits and the making of loans. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. Therefore 50% are positive.

08/23/2016 - First Bancorp was upgraded to "outperform" by analysts at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods. The firm has "Overweight" rating given on Wednesday, November 16 by Piper Jaffray. As per Wednesday, July 26, the company rating was maintained by Stephens.

08/03/2015 - First Bancorp had its "market perform" rating reiterated by analysts at Stifel Nicolaus. The ex-dividend date was set for Wednesday the 30th of August 2017. As per Thursday, March 10, the company rating was downgraded by Sandler O'Neill.

Analysts await First Bancorp (NASDAQ:FBNC) to report earnings on October, 26. The firm has "Buy" rating given on Tuesday, October 3 by Keefe Bruyette & Woods. The rating was downgraded by FIG Partners to "Market Perform" on Wednesday, May 11.

Since May 9, 2017, it had 0 insider buys, and 1 sale for $47,384 activity. In the latest earnings report the EPS was $1.51 and is projected to be $1.52 for the current year with 62,152,000 shares now outstanding. The bank reported $0.37 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the Zacks' consensus estimate of $0.38 by ($0.01).

Blue Harbour Group L.P. holds 4.37% of its portfolio in Rowan Companies PLC for 11.08 million shares. Macquarie Group Ltd. now owns 2,544,438 shares of the bank's stock worth $70,481,000 after purchasing an additional 77,946 shares in the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 32,547 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $1,126,000 after buying an additional 3,844 shares during the last quarter. Huber Management Ltd Co reported 243,895 shares or 0.39% of all its holdings.